God and Taxes

God is a flat-taxer.

“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:30

In the Old Testament, God asked for 10% of everyone’s income, straight up.  People could give more if they felt like it, but 10% was the requirement for everyone, regardless of income or capabilities.

He went even further though and instituted a sort of reverse progressive tax, or regressive tax.  At the time the Israelites were counted, each man was required to give a half shekel of silver (about 6 grams).(Exodus 38)

Regardless of income, each man had to give the same amount of silver.  This tax was more burdensome to the poor than to the rich.

When Jesus came, he asked his followers to voluntarily give 100%.  The tithe still stood, but he said that we should really give everything.

This is why I am not a communist, or a socialist, or any kind of leftist, (don’t think that makes me an authoritarian either).

The key to Jesus new outlook on income is that it’s voluntary.  This is critical to the gospel message.

Our vision of communal living is not at all based on a governmental system of forced economic equality.

The government requires some taxes to fulfill essential functions.  But the decision to share our income must be voluntary, or it’s meaningless.

Comments

From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need.
-Karl Marx

See you guys soon!
-Brook a.k.a “Simply One Life regular poster and pot stirrer”

is stirrer a word?

But what do you do about people who don’t want to and will never want to (what’s mine is mine)?  I know someone like that certainly wouldn’t join a community where sharing is expected, but what about on the city/state/national level?

It’s a good point Kathleen, and to be honest I don’t know.  It’s a tough question.

But I don’t think employing an inefficient government to force their charity is a responsible decision.

If someone doesn’t want to/won’t ever want to, who are we to judge and force their hand?  It’s their eternal destiny, no amount of charity, forced or otherwise, is going to change that.

Even being a Socialist from an idealist point of view, I recognize that Socialism doesn’t work from a govenment imposed standpoint.  Even if it rose from the grassroots, human and government nature would be sure to screw it up on the large scale.  I believe the best we can do is to share and share alike on a small community scale within the framework of the democratic govenment we enjoy. 

While I think Capitalism has its glaring shortcomings, at least it provides a path to allow the achievers to achieve, and hopefully those achievers would step up to better humanity and the surrounding communities on their own.  But, I believe Brad is correct.  As soon as government forces charity, it is no longer charity, but taxation without representation.

Thank God you haven’t gone total hippie.

I believe the best we can do is to share and share alike on a small community scale within the framework of the democratic govenment we enjoy.